Retirement Speeches

Advice on how to create your own farewell words

Retirement speeches are an important part of the transition into retirement.

A sincere, personal,and often humorous way, of acknowledging the friends and colleagues around you - and the support they have given over the years.

Enjoy your retirement function 

When I work with clients on their farewell speeches in my coaching practice, we usually adopt the following guidelines. They are based upon my learning as an "Accomplished Toastmaster" within Toastmasters International, my personal experience of listening to sample speeches, and of writing and delivering my own speech.

Your retirement function is an occasion to be cherished and enjoyed (a time to receive tributes and wonderful retirement gifts). It’s helpful to remember that you are among friends, and that rarely will you have a more supportive audience. They want you to succeed. You are the star of the show!

Examples, tips, and advice

The content and your delivery should reflect your personality. Humour can give your speech new interest and sparkle, but you should feel under no compulsion to use jokes. It is not essential to an entertaining speech. Don’t try it if you are not confident of your ability to use it well.

Know your audience. Are you speaking to close work colleagues or to a more general company wide audience?

What tone is appropriate to the occasion, formal or informal?

Be sincere, avoid exaggerated sentiment.

Have a central theme or message - I will miss you, but I’'m positive about my future.

Read my retirement speech example

Be brief, 15 minutes maximum, 5-7 might be sufficient.

The content of your speech should include the following:

• Thank your colleagues for their support in your career and personal life - have a look at my "too-long" speech example draft
• Refer to some career highlights
• Tell them about your future plans in a positive and upbeat tone.
• Wish them and the company well.

General tips for successful public speaking

Here are some additional tips for successful public speaking:

• Know the room.
• Know the audience.
• Know your material - practice and revise.
• Relax.
• Visualise yourself giving the speech.
• Realise that people want you to succeed.
• Don’t apologise.
• Concentrate on the message - focus your attention outwards.
• Turn nervousness into positive energy.
• Gain experience.
• If you really enjoy the process - consider learning more about the wonderful hobby of Creative Writing

Finally, if you want funny retirement advice read Retirement Never,which won the Toastmasters International speech contest in 1983 - the Retirement Sentiments expressed are timeless!

.... AND .... if you want to read more great Retirement Speeches, see our great free gift below!

Subscribe Now.. and receive this Great Free Gift! Email First Name Then Don't worry -- your e-mail address is totally secure. I promise to use it only to send you Retirement Stories.

Sample Retirement Speeches - Great Examples for You to Change and Use ... You will receive Download Instructions on Your Confirmation Page.

Speech TO retiree

Here you have examples of retirement speeches, when you are the retiree. You may be asked to a speech to honor a retiring co-worker and say a fond farewell. The link in this paragraph has an example of such a speech.

Want to hear what other people are doing for an Active Retirement? 

Subscribe to my monthly email newsletter, "Retirement Stories". Full of new stories and tips on planning for and enjoying an active retirement.

You may also be interested in some of the following excellent resources to help you prepare your speech: Speechmastery.com  will help you learn the three pillars of great speaking. What you say, how you say it and how you present yourself. 

It's worthwhile spending quality time getting your farewell words right. I really like these timeless retirement speeches for gracious yet great goodbyes ... they are easily adapted and personalized - find the right words every time! 

Back to Homepage